Box Scores: DePaul vs. UConn (Game 1) | Villanova vs. Butler (Game 2) | UConn vs. Butler (Game 3)
 
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Strong pitching was the story on Day One of the 2022 BIG EAST Softball Championship presented by JEEP from Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Ill. For the second straight season, the top two seeds in the tournament were upset in their opening games as No. 4 seed DePaul knocked off No. 1 seed UConn 6-2, in Game 1, followed by No. 3 seed and defending champion Villanova shutting down No. 2 seed Butler 2-0 in Game 2. In the tournament’s first elimination game, the Huskies scored in each of the final three innings to eliminate the Bulldogs by a score of 4-1 in Game 3.
 
Semifinal Friday kicks off with winner’s bracket action at noon ET as DePaul takes on Villanova in Game 4. The loser of that game will face UConn in Game 5 at 3 p.m., in the second elimination game of the week. The winner of each game will advance to Game 6 on Saturday at noon, with an if-necessary game slated for 2:30 p.m. Both of Friday’s games will air live on FS2.
 
Game 1: No. 4 DePaul 6, No. 1 UConn 2
Last year, DePaul was ousted on the first day of the tournament after entering as the top seed. This time, the Blue Demons upset regular season champion UConn in the opening game, led by a strong pitching performance from Sarah Lehman. The graduate student carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, having allowed just one baserunner to that point. Lehman got early run support from an RBI triple off the bat of Baylee Cosgrove that made it 1-0 Blue Demons in the second inning. Two innings later, DePaul would break the game open thanks to a two-run double from Brooke Johnson and a two-run single from Kate Polucha that made it 5-0. UConn tried to claw its way back in the sixth, as Reese Guevarra’s RBI double ended both the no-hitter and shutout bid for Lehman. The teams would exchange runs in the seventh, including a home run from UConn’s Sami Barnett. However, Lehman would be able to close the door and send the Blue Demons to the BIG EAST semifinals. This marks the third straight tournament in which the No. 4 seed has defeated the No. 1 seed.
 
Game 2: No. 3 Villanova 2, No. 2 Butler 0
Game 2 of the day featured another stellar pitching performance, as Paige Rauch fired a four-hit shutout while striking out 12 in a Villanova victory. The Wildcats got started early, as Megan Kern plated the game’s first run with an RBI single in the top of the first. That would be all the run support Rauch would need, as Butler batters only had three batted balls leave the infield against the graduate student. Villanova would grab an insurance run in the third thanks to a Chloe Smith sacrifice fly which made it a 2-0 game. Butler’s greatest threat would come in the fifth inning, after a leadoff walk to Teagan O’Rilley and a bunt single from Bri Avery put runners at first and second. After a fly out moved both runners up a base, Ellie Boyer would foul out to end the threat. Rauch would then set down the side in order in the final two innings to secure the win.
 
Game 3: No. 1 UConn 4, No. 2 Butler 1
For the second straight season, the top two seeds battled in the tournament’s first elimination game on Thursday night. Butler had the momentum early, chasing UConn starter Marybeth Olson in the second inning after a bases loaded walk put the Bulldogs ahead. However, Elise Sokolsky would come on in relief and help swing the game back in the Huskies’ favor. The freshman escaped the bases loaded jam she inherited in the second and kept Butler off the scoreboard for the next 5.1 innings to earn the win. UConn used a two-run fifth to take the lead, as an infield single from Reese Guevarra followed by an RBI triple from Lexi Hastings propelled the Huskies in front. Sami Barnett and Jana Sanden would each add an RBI in the sixth and seventh, respectively, to widen the UConn lead. Butler would not go away quietly, as it brought the tying run to the plate with no outs in the bottom of the seventh. Sokolsky would strike out Kinley Longest on three pitches before Bri Avery lined into a game-ending double play to solidify UConn’s place in the semifinals.
 
2022 BIG EAST Softball Championship Presented by JEEP
Parkway Bank Sports Complex – Rosemont, Ill.
DAY 1 – THURSDAY, MAY 12:
Game 1: No. 4 DePaul 6, No. 1 UConn 2
Game 2: No. 3 Villanova 2, No. 2 Butler 0
Game 3: No. 1 UConn 4, No. 2 Butler 1

DAY 2 – FRIDAY, MAY 13:
Game 4: No. 4 DePaul vs. No. 3 Villanova, Noon – FS2
Game 5: No. 1 UConn vs. Loser of Game 4, 3 p.m. – FS2

Day 3 – SATURDAY, May 14:
Game 6: Winners of Game 4 and Game 5, Noon – FS2
Game 7 (if necessary): If Winner of Game 5 wins Game 6, 2:30 p.m. – FS2